Coping with Social Isolation and Crisis throughout the summer

Since the last blog was released – we are pleased to announce that funding for the Well-Bean Café has been secured, and the service has now been extended until the end of March 2019 – which we feel is great news for our visitors and staff alike. Originally the service was a 20 month pilot project (from October 2016), and since then we have had over 110 new visits from different individuals – as well as over two thousand total visits to the service, allowing people a safe space to cope with their mental health crisis and isolation. Thank you to everyone who has supported the Café to this point, as we will look forward to helping many more people going forward.

‘The Sun is shining – the weather is sweet’….. so we can all just forget about our problems right? The stereotype of sunny weather can be that people should feel happy, and should be outside enjoying themselves – without a care in the world. The summer can be fun – but some aspects of mental health do not discriminate, and can be present with individuals at any time. Also seeing others around enjoying themselves can be challenging if you are feeling socially isolated. Loneliness and Isolation can be even more challenging in the summer, and it can be hard to get support or help.

At the Well-Bean Café, we will not judge you and will accept you. We offer a safe place where you can access 1-1 or social support to help to cope with challenging feelings or your own sense of crisis. We are here every weekend throughout the summer (Sat, Sun and Mon nights – inc’ bank holidays). On a first visit to the Café, you will be offered a free taxi to and from the service to minimise the anxiety of coming for the first time, as well as being offered 1.5 hours of 1-1 support with one of our staff members. Details of when and how you can refer to the service are below on the next sheet. If you are struggling or in Crisis, please call or text us….

We offer a genuinely safe place – with support workers and trained therapists, offering the following services: A non-judgemental social place to relax in, hot food and not/cold drinks on tap (no charge), 1 to 1 therapeutic support sessions (up to an hour – from a person centred standpoint), practical support – with a focus on social crisis, information and signposting to others helpful services in Leeds, as well as having board games, art books, music and even a pool table that can be used by anyone. Our workers – Kim, Matt, Amareen, Wendy, Holly and Christian here are to welcome you with a friendly smile …

The Well-Bean – Hope in a Crisis Café is a service run in partnership between Touchstone and Leeds Survivor Led Crisis Service.

*PLEASE NOTE – ON YOUR FIRST VISIT TO THE WELL-BEAN CAFÉ – WE WILL PROVIDE A FREE TAXI (TO AND FROM) THE SERVICE, TO TAKE AWAY THE WORRY OF GETTING TO US FOR THE FIRST TIME*